OCEANSIDE — The city of Oceanside is set to remove the charred remains of the pier’s western end, which was heavily damaged by a fire earlier this year. This work will pave the way for significant repairs and reconstruction.
The City Council has approved a $1.14 million contract with Jilk Heavy Construction to demolish the destroyed restaurant, kiosk buildings and various utilities at the hammerhead end of the pier. This includes removing decking, railing and other infrastructure.
Demolition is expected to be completed by December.
The fire, which occurred on April 25, is believed to have started from electrical wires beneath the deck. Following the incident, the city declared a local state of emergency and quickly moved to plan for the pier’s restoration. By May 22, the council formally approved the reconstruction of the damaged hammerhead, as well as the former Ruby’s Diner and the Brine Box seafood kiosk.
The demolition process will unfold in two phases: the initial phase will involve tearing down the restaurant and kiosk buildings, while the second phase will focus on removing decking, railings, and other utilities. Once the remains are cleared, consultants will evaluate what parts of the pier can be salvaged or need to be replaced.
Some residents have expressed concerns about the delay in starting the removal process. According to city staff, the timeline has been prolonged by permitting requirements and ongoing fire investigations involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, as well as the city’s and tenants’ insurance companies.
“We can’t do any demolition until all of the investigations have been completed,” said City Engineer Brian Thomas.
Thomas noted that staff issued bid requests over the summer, but after receiving the bids, the tenants’ insurance group contacted the city to demand that some elements of the pier be preserved for further examination.
“Staff worked with Jilk during this time to include additional costs for these changes,” Thomas explained.
Additionally, the city had to navigate several beachfront events before moving forward, further complicating the timeline.
City Attorney John Mullen stated that the building tenants will be required to reimburse the city for their portion of the demolition costs, estimated at approximately $388,000.
Emergency permits were secured from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California Fish and Wildlife, State Water Quality Control Board, and the California Coastal Commission late in the summer, allowing the city to proceed. On Sept. 9, the city issued a notice to begin debris removal. The Army Corps also approved a marine mammal study as part of the process.
Currently, the contractor is preparing an application for a scaffolding permit. Once approved, the permit will provide support under the pier to prevent debris from falling into the ocean. Demolition work will begin after the scaffolding is installed.
The city also plans to salvage and return the family name plaques that are engraved on the pier’s handrails in the damaged area. Families wishing to recover these plates must sign waivers, as the plates may have been treated with potentially harmful chemicals during the fire.
“This continues to be a beloved pier,” said Mayor Esther Sanchez. “I’m sure after it’s rebuilt, we’ll all be showing a lot more love to its replacements.”
The overall reconstruction project is estimated to cost more than $17 million and will likely take several years to complete before the entire pier is fully open to the public once again.
